On 13 December, subsequent to the unit's road march to the Elsenborn area, the 2ID was committed to offensive operations so the unit was back on the road.

At 0700 on 18 December, the Germans, who had been assembling forces all night, attacked Rocherath-Krinkelt out of the morning mist. The savage fighting continued nonstop all day with infantry and tank battles raging throughout both villages. At the individual level, there were numerous instances of heroic efforts by US officers and men in close combat. One tactical radio operator hid in a cellar and reported the activities of the Germans upstairs and outside for almost a full day. Subsequent news reporting of the battle noted that “in this single engagement (at Rocherath), 50 Germans were killed, and 25 American soldiers were rescued from enemy hands.” In the same action, a “machine gun crew was twice captured and twice escaped within 24 hours.” In another sector of the town, troops “fought with rifles, carbines and pistols, and seven men who had been captured by Germans overpowered sentries and escaped to rejoin the fight.” One battalion commander of the 38th, whose normal command consisted of three infantry companies and a heavy weapons company, was reported to have men from sixteen different companies fighting under his command. The fight in the Rocherath and Krinkelt was desperate. While there is no confirmation that the 7032nd Ordnance Company was in those towns, since none of the rear echelon units were specifically enumerated in the unit history, it is exceedingly likely the 702nd was present. It is equally likely that S/SGT Scott was one of the men who was captured and subsequently rescued in this 2-day battle.

There were rumors among the soldiers fighting at Rocherath and Krinkelt that the “SS had been murdering prisoners and bayoneting wounded.” It is not clear where those alleged events might have occurred, but later in the same day (17 December) after passing through Bülligen (4 kilometers southwest of the twin towns), troops in Kampfgruppe Peiper, massacred 84 US soldiers at Malmedy. Not explicitly reported at the time, but documented during the Malmedy investigation, was the report that 50 US soldiers had been murdered at Bülligen. The unit responsible for the murders at Bülligen was the same: Kampfgruppe Peiper. S/SGT Scott also sent home a clipping about the massacre of 84 US soldiers at Malmedy, Belgium. Both clippings may have been concurrently sent is a letter home to Vivian. Regardless, there is little doubt that S/SGT Scott had a close encounter with SS soldiers and might have barely escaped being murdered himself had fortune not looked favorably in his direction.
Prepared by RJCarr,11Nov 2019

Military Service

20 DEC 1944

Ovifat, Liege, Belgium

Military Service

21 DEC 1944

Verviers, Liege, Belgium

Military Service

21 FEB 1945

Dreistegen, Germany

Military Service

01 MAR 1945

Vlatten, Germany

Military Service

08 MAR 1945

Munstereifel, Germany

Military Service

10 MAR 1945

Bad Neuenhr, Germany

Military Service

22 MAR 1945

Honnigen, Germany

Military Service

26 MAR 1945

Bendorf Sayn, Germany

Military Service

30 MAR 1945

Homberg, Germany

Military Service

01 APR 1945

Netze, Germany

Military Service

06 APR 1945

Grebebstein, Germany

Military Service

09 APR 1945

Niedernjesa, Germany

Military Service

09 APR 1945

Oberscheden, Germany

Military Service

11 APR 1945

Breitenworbis, Germany

Military Service

12 APR 1945

Stockhausen, Germany

Military Service

13 APR 1945

Reinsdorf, Germany

Military Service

17 APR 1945

Merseberg, Germany

Military Service

21 APR 1945

Bad Lausick, Germany

Military Service

02 MAY 1945

Oberviechtach, Germany

Military Service

06 MAY 1945

Domazlice, West Bohemia, Czech Republic

Military Service

08 MAY 1945

Pilsen, Czechoslovakia

Military Service

27 SEP 1945

Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, USA

Western Union Telegram to:
Mrs. John E Scott, 4121 Commerce Street, Dallas: "Arrived safely expect to see you soon dont attempt to contact or write me here love. John.." Received at the Western Union office in Dallas at 4:51 PM.

In October 1945 Vivian and Edgar traveled through New Mexico on a long delayed honeymoon; they had been married in April 1943 just before Edgar deployed to Ireland in advance of the invasion of Germany in June 1944. Vivian wrote home to her widowed mother describing the wonderful time she and Edgar were having and regretted having the trip come to an end.

Scott, John Edgar: 1940 TruckThis picture may have been taken on the same date as the nearby rabbit hunt photo. The back of the photo is stamped by the Maresch Studio, 106 N./ Francis St., Terrell, Texas.

Scott, John Edgar: 1943 Rabbit HuntEdgar is pictured with an unidenfied hunting partnter. The rabbit may not have ben the reuslt of a hunt- it may simply have strayed too close to a dog!

Scott, John Edgar: 1943 with his bride, VivianThe picture of Edgar & Vivian is dated 23 April 1943, 10 days after their marriage ceremony. Since Edgar would soon to deploy for training as part of the European invasion force, they were forced to hold off on a honeymoon until October 1945 - a nearby postcard sent by Vivian towards the end of the honeymoon relays her reluctance to be returning home to Texas - and to work. Their marriage was an improbable success; they were married six days after meeting, yet, their wonderful marriage endured until Edgar's death in 1986.

Scott, John Edgar: 1943 v2 Photo was taken at the 2nd Infantry Division studio at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. It quite likely became an "exchange" photo after his new wife, Vivian Lucile (Howard), shared her photo with him.

Scott, John E: 1943 Fort McCoy PillowEdgar sent this pillow case to his wife, Vivian, shortly after returning to Fort McCoy, WS. He had met and married her while home in Texas during a two-week emergency leave period. They would not enjoy a honeymoon until Edgar returned from Europe. The pillow case reads:
My Wife
A darling little wife
She blesses all my life
You are my partner sweet
You make my life complete

Their daughter, Lana, found the item in their cedar blanket chest after they both died.

Scott, John Edgar: 1944 Northern IrelandThis picture of Edgar was taken at H. Allison & Son, 42 Scotch Street, Armagh, Ireland and sent home to his wife, Vivian. Staff Sergeant John E. Scott was assigned to the 702 Maintenance Company of the 2nd Infantry Division in early 1944 when the Division was staging for the Normandy invasion.

2nd Infantry Division (2ID) Omaha Beach: 1944 JUN 07This classic photo of 2ID soldiers climbing up the slope from Omaha Beach was enlarged and hung on a wall in the WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA. Veeta (Scott) Biggers visited the museum in January 2016 and as she glanced up at the photo, the second soldier in the column looking at the photographer drew her attention. While there may be no way to confirm his identification to an absolute certainty, she was convinced that it was her father, SSG John Edgar Scott, who was with the 702 Ordnance Company, 2ID on that very day!

Scott, John Edgar: 1944 June 07, Omaha BeachVeeta (Scott) Biggers visited the WWII Museum in New Orleans in January 2016 and as she rounded a corner there was a large photo of 2ID men climbing up from Omaha Beach. A soldier in the column drew her attention and she in turn snapped a photo of him to share with her family. While there may be no way to confirm his identification, it sure looks like SSG John Edgar Scott who was with the 702 Ordnance Company, 2ID on that very day!

Scott, John Edgar: 1944 BivouacJohn Edgar Scott is depicted 2nd from the right at a unit bivouac during WWII...the location is presumed to be on the mainland of Europe rather than at the 702 Maintenance Company, 2nd Infantry Division staging area in Northern Ireland prior to the June 6, 1944 invasion.

Scott, John Edgar: 1944 FranceOn the back of this photograph of Edgar is a typed note: "June 1944 in France in no mans land." The alphanumerics (2-X-702) on the right front bumper reflects Edgar's unit designation: 2nd Division 702nd Ordnance Company.

Scott, John Edgar: 1944 Dog TagsThe format for the Army m1940 dog-tags changed four times between December 1940 and April 1946. Edgar's dog-tags reflect last version. Two notations were added in later years: a second Tetanus shot in 1950 and his RH factor: "NEG". Although the RH factor was available in 1940, the US military did not use it during WWII. Edgar likely had an earlier set of dog-tags since he enlisted in 1940.
Name: SCOTT, JOHN E
Service number: 18011516
Blood type: O NEG
Religion: P (for Protestant)
Tetanus shot dates: T44 and T50
www.5ad.org/ArmyDogTags.htm

Scott, John Edgar: 1945 BelgiumEdgar's 2ID unit spent October 1944 thru January 1945 in a variety of bivouac locations in Belgium. The back of this photograph indicates it was taken in January 1945; since his unit was in Verviers from late December thru late January, Verviers is probably where the photo was taken.

Scott, John Edgar: 1946 Vivan plusJohn Edgar and Vivian are in the right side of a photo was developed by Studer's in San Antonio, TX. Other persons are not yet identified.

Scott, John Edgar: 1947 USAF E6This picture of Edgar was taken sometime after September 1947, the point when the USAF became a separate branch of service. Prior to that time it was known as the Army Air Corps.

Scott, John Edgar: 1947 USAT ThistleEdgar may have taken this ship to Adak, AK in 1947 since it appears that Adak is in the left background. The photograph was found in Edgar's photo album - and was part of his collection from his time on Adak. (Interestingly, a relative of Regis' sailed on the ship in 1931 when it was named the S.S. Munargo, before it was reconfigured as a hospital ship, and then a USAT. See note below. The S.S. Munargo is pictured elsewhere on this website. )

Laid down, 30 September 1920, as the Passenger/Cargo Liner SS Munargo for the Munson S.S. Co., at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
Launched, 17 September 1921.
Delivered to Munson S.S. Co., 11 December 1921
Purchased from Munargo Line Co. (Munson S.S. Co.), 27 March 1941, by the US Army at Pier #4 US Army Base Brooklyn, N.Y. for conversion to a troop ship
Acquired by the US Navy from the US Army 6 June 1941
Commissioned USS Munargo (AP-20), 4 June 1941, CDR. Harold F. Ely in command.
Decommissioned, 18 October 1943, at Brooklyn, N.Y. and returned to the War Department
Struck from the Naval Register
Converted for service as a US Army Hospital Ship
Commissioned USAHS Thistle, 15 January 1944
Converted in March 1946 to a US Army Transport ship and redesignated USAT Thistle
Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 1 November 1948, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR.
Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 13 March 1957, at Astoria, to the Learner Co.
NavSource Online

Scott, John Edgar: 1947 September in Adak, AK Vivian is shown in pleasant weather outside their quarters before the arrival of Veeta in late November. Edgar is shown two months later in the same general postion - weather still fine.

At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

2nd Infantry Division shoulder patchWorn by John Edgar Scott during WWII. His future son-in-law, RJCarr, would twice wear a similar patch while stationed at camps in South Korea in 1974 and 1977. John Edgar's grandson, RJCarr II, would also wear the patch while stationed at Fort Lewis, WA in 2015.

Scott, John Edgar: 1921 ChronologyThis document reflects the chronology of John Edgar Scott's life with emphasis on his military assignments. His daughter, Veeta, retains the original documentation.

Scott, John Edgar: 1940 EnlistmentEdgar's enlistment record provides all manner of intersting and useful information. The change of address appended to the bottom reflects his move to Louisana on maneuvers with the 2nd Infantry Divison prior to shipping out to Northern Ireland.

Thirty-three (33) years later his future son-in-law, Regis Carr, would find himself living in the same town, Leesville, following an assignment to Korea with the same division.

Scott, John Edgar: 1940 Enlistment RecordThis enlistment record shows that Edgar (19) enlisted on 2 Aug 1940 at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Prior to his enlistment he was paid $15/week while working as a laborer and having completed but two years of high school. The physical examination page of the record shows that his right shoulder was 1.5 inches lower than his left and that he was 69" inches tall, weighed 145 pounds and had 20/20 visoion. Attached to the record is a change of address form that indicated as of 27 August, 1942 his mother could be reached at a new address. The form was completed while Edgar could be reached via Army Post Office #2 in Leesville, LA. (Thirty_five years later his son-in-law, Regis, would find himself in the same city while also serving in the Army.)

Scott, John Edgar: 1943 Marriage to Vivian ScottThis is the marriage license for John Edgar Scott & Vivian Howard. The license was granted on 12 April 1943 and the ceremony was conducted the following day by Rev. John L. Hyde in Kaufman County, TX.

Scott, John Edgar: 1945 Chronology (WWII Bivouac Locations)This document lists the locations that the 702nd Maintenance Company of the 2nd Infantry Division occupied in the months following their landing in Normandy. Edgar was assigned to this unit for the duration of his deployment in Europe. The locations are reflected in both the nearby Scott-John-Edgar Chronolgy document and in the map tack locations in Edgar's individual page on this website. After landing at Omaha Beach, on 09 June 1944 the unit moved inland to Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France and continued its combat support operations on the mainland until 08 May 1945 when it reached Plzen in the present day Czech Republic - a straight-line distance of 1232 kilometers. The eastward journey would be made in 36 segments; as short as 3km and as long as 701km. It does not include the return legs used to reach the French port (Le Havre) from which the 2ID would return to the USA. Those legs would not have included T-SGT John Edgar Scott since he had been reassigned to the 799th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company in June 1945. Combat units almost immediately began planning redeployment to the USA - an indication of how quickly the Army was redirecting its operations towards Japan - even though some units remained as occupation forces in Germany. How Technical Sergeant Scott traveled back to the USA is not certain since the National Archives advised that the shipping records for all unit re-deployments were intentionally (and inexplicably) destroyed in about 1951. It is known that TSGT Scott arrived safely at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on 27 September 1945 and sent a telegram to his wife acknowledging same.

Scott, John Edgar: 1945 DischargeEdgar was discharged from the Army upon return to the United States from war in Europe. His discharge was for the convenience of the government, e.g., demobilization. He had been awarded Army Campaign Medal with 5 Bronze stars for participation in combat operations in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He had been overseas continuously from 8 October 1943 until 27 September 1945 which was calculated to be 1 year, 11 months, and 20 days. Ten days at each end of that timeframe were periods of transit at sea. He was given a mustering out pay of $300. He paid $6.60 for each month for life insurance which he chose to discontinue after mustering out. He was issued a lapel button recognizing his total service of 5 years, 2 month and 5 days. The home address listed was that of his sister-in-law, Beulah Mae Howard Brannon.

Scott, John Edgar: 1946 Promoton in the US Army Air CorpsEffective 26 June, 1946 Edgar was promoted to Staff Sergeant (E-6) while stationed at Adak, AK with headquarters at Fort Richrdson, AK. The orders read "He is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time, as he shall receive from his Superior Officers and Noncommissioned Officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of War." The cerificate was signed on 4 April, 1947.

Scott, John Edgar: 1950 DD214This document summarized Edgar's 2nd period of military service. The 1st included his wartime service plus an additional year. He took a break in service and then rejoined the Army. This period ended when the USAF was created. A third DD214 issued in 1961 covers all three periods of service.

Scott, John Edgar: 1951 USAF Appointment to Staff SergeantEdgar was appointed a Staff Sergeant (E-6) in the Air Force with the same date of rank that he held in the Army Air Coprps. The appointment indirectly reflects the creation of the Air Force as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is not clear why it took nearly four years to reflect his Air Force rank. It is entirely possible that units were incrementally transferred to the USAF from the Army - or that Edgar did not request an inter-service transfer until he returned fromm Adak, AK.

Scott, John Edgar: 1959 Buyer's statementJoseph D. Langford submitted the statement of his closing costs for the land Edgar purchased thru the Veteran's Land Board. A story about said land is elsewhere on this website.

Scott, John Edgar: 1986 ObituaryM-Sgt.John E. Scott (Air Force, ret), aged 64, of 24 Lakeside Drive, Hensley, dies Monday. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and a member of the Lakeside Country Club at Hensley, Non-Commissioned Officers Association of San Antonio, Tex, and member and past president of the Oak Park Country Club at Lytle, Tex. Survivors are his wife, Vivian Howard Scott; two daughters, Veeta Biggers of Little Rock and Lana Carr of Frankfurt, Germany; a brother, Robert C. Scott of Canton, Tex.; two sisters, Audie Whitt of Terrell, Tex., and Betty Taylor of Dallas, Tex, and three grandchildren. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in National Cemetery by North Little Rock Funeral Home. The family will be at 2009 Arch Street.

Scott, John Edgar: 1986 Statement of ServiceThis document, prepared postmortem, sumarizes the four periods of Edgar's military service and an explanation for the termination:
August 2, 1940 to October 6, 1945 (Demobilization)
June 26, 1946 to November 16, 1950 (Reenlistment in USAF)
November 17, 1950 to September 30, 1961 (RFAD - Honorable service)
October 1, 1961 to April 7, 1986 (Retirement as MSGT)

Scott,John Edgar: 1944 SpearheadThis copy of the 2nd Infantry Division newspaper was probably sent home to Vivian. It contains remarkable stories, many of which retain historical prominence :
Battleship Tirpitz Sunk;
In eastern France: 3rd Army Troops took Metz forts;
Russians were striking for Budapest;
In Italy, the 8th Army gained 2 miles;
Japanese massed for a breakout on Leyte;
14th USAF destroyed base in China;
General Eisenhower asked public to join 6th War Loan drive;
Compulsory military training was main problem facing 78th Congress;
Roosevelt retained old cabinet - except Vincent to become assistant president;
Boeing announced a post-war period transport with range and altitude of the Flying Fort;
Commander Buckley who was decorated for getting General MacArthur away from Philippines was awarded LOM for invasion planning;
Ethyl Barrymore missed 1st perfromce in 50 years;
Army Air Transport, Fire Ball Express, set record in India;
Green Bay Packers defeated the Cleveland Rams 42-7

702 Ordnance Company, Second Infantry Division (2ID) (June 1942 - May 1945)The document lists the bivouac sites occupied by the 702nd Ordnance Company during WWII beginning on 09 June 1944 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France just inland from Omaha Beach, to 08 May 1945 at Plzen in the present day Czech Republic - a straight-line distance of 1232 kilometers. The eastward journey would be made in 36 segments; as short as 3km and as long as 701km. It does not include the return legs used to reach the French port (Le Havre) from which the 2ID would return to the USA. Those legs would not have included T-SGT John Edgar Scott. He was reassigned to the 799th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company in June 1945 and almost immediately began his redeployment to the USA - an indication of how quickly the Army was redirecting its operations towards Japan - even though some units remained as occupation forces in Germany. Regardless, how T-SGT Scott traveled back to the USA is not certain since the National Archives advised that the shipping records for all unit re-deployments were intentionally destroyed in about 1951.

Scott, John Edgar: 1961 JUN 11 TDY to Wheelus Air Base, Tripoli, LibyaEdgar was sent to Wheelus Air Base for in-patient treatment of a dental problem. While the period of TDY was shown as 89 days, that was a stipulation to preclude interpretation of the travel as a permanent change of station (PCS). As it worked out, he was reassigned from Jidda (Jeddah) Saudi Arabia the following month and was discharged (retired) from the Air Force in August 1961 while en route home to Texas.

Scott, John Edgar: 2011 A Texas Veteran's StoryIn 1959 Edgar purchased a 20-acre farm in south Texas thru the Texas Veteran's Land Board. The ensuing 25 years is a marvelous story of success - the American way. The story of his farm in Lytle, TX is captured in this document.